As hospitals look to emerge from a tumultuous two-plus years, they continue to encounter new and different challenges. One challenge relates to 10 ballot initiatives that would deepen inequities in our health care system and jeopardize access to care.
Driven by the SEIU-UHW, these 10 ballot measures in 10 different Southern California cities would set a new $25 per hour minimum wage standard for certain workers at private hospitals, hospital-based facilities and dialysis clinics. However, the proposed standard completely excludes workers who do the exact same job at public hospitals, clinics and health care facilities, including all University of California and county hospitals and clinics. The measures also completely exclude workers at health care facilities not affiliated with hospitals, including community health clinics, Planned Parenthood clinics, nursing homes, medical centers and more. In fact, the vast majority of health care workers in each city are excluded by the measures.
CHA, HASC and Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks (BCF) are part of a larger campaign team that’s dedicated to strongly opposing these harmful measures. We’ve launched a second campaign to educate the public about these unequal pay measures and have also built a broad coalition of health care providers and community organizations who also oppose them.
Call to Action for Hospital Leaders and Partners
- We’re requesting all members (including those not directly covered by the initiatives) to join our coalition and add to the collective voice against these initiatives. If you haven’t yet joined, I implore you to please sign on and stand with our hospitals and clinics.
- We also need help recruiting clinics and non-covered providers to join our fight to help underscore the inequitable and unfair nature of the measures. Coalition allies can sign up easily at www.NoUnequalPay.com.
- The campaign has a number of resources available to assist your outreach efforts. Please contact [email protected] for materials and assistance in this important call to action.
Mass Violence: A Public Health Crisis
In recent weeks, we’ve seen a series of horrific acts of violence unfold in schools, hospitals, places of worship and elsewhere. Sadly, a mass shooting event occurs almost every day in the U.S. In 2020, firearms killed more than 45,000 people in the country. While our hospitals and health systems are the very institutions that respond to these senseless acts of violence, they’re, unfortunately, also targeted. Last week, three caregivers at one of our member hospitals were victims of mass violence.
On June 3, the American Hospital Association (AHA) recognized #HAVhope, a national day of awareness to end violence and highlight how America’s hospitals and health systems can combat violence in their workplaces and communities. The AHA partnered with the National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center (NMVVRC) to provide resources and support on mass violence incidents for the communities and patients served by hospitals and health systems.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the parents, families, classmates, caregivers and all who have been affected by these pointless and devastating attacks. There is much to do to reduce the risk for violence and advocate for advancing health, and we’ll continue to support appropriate efforts to protect our hospitals and the communities they serve.
Take care and stay safe.
George G.